Board of Directors

LAIRD VAN DAMME

Thunder Bay, ON

Chair, August 20, 2023 to August 19, 2025

Mr. Van Damme is a registered professional forester (R.P.F.) since 1985 and is based in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  He has worked in many jurisdictions in North America and overseas as a consultant and co-owner of KBM Resources Group. KBM had forestry operations in Northwestern Ontario and Chile with an active trading partnership with Sweden. The firm has expanded its services to include aerial surveys using advanced sensors.  He is now an independent consultant serving public and private agencies.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at Lakehead University where he teaches forest policy and forest products marketing classes among other tasks and research programs. He graduated from Lakehead University with a Masters in Forest Science (genetics) in 1985.

ADAM BROWN

Marathon, ON

Vice-Chair, July 2, 2023 to July 1, 2025

Mr. Brown has been the Chief Executive Officer of the North of Superior Healthcare Group since 2013, following progressively responsible roles in finance and operations at Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon. Prior to his role in healthcare, Adam served in senior financial roles in both forestry and mining operations and began his career in public accounting. Adam is currently the Chair of North of Superior Counselling Programs, a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Northshore Natural Gas Project, past Chair of the Marathon Economic Development Corporation and has served in Executive Board level roles in numerous local and regional healthcare care and recreation organizations. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota.

JULIE ROY-WARD

Hornepayne, ON

Director, May 2022 to May 2025

Julie Roy-Ward is the Chief Administration Officer with the Township of White River as well as former CAO/Clerk/Treasurer with the Township of Hornepayne and former Administrator of the Hornepayne Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Her community involvement includes Treasurer of KIDSPORT- Hornepayne and Ontario Trillium Foundation Volunteer. Ms RoyWard has held several positions such as former Director with the NordAski Board of Directors as well as past terms as a Delegate of the Northern Credit Union, as Vice President of the Hornepayne Economic Development Committee and as Secretary of the Hornepayne Three Bears Daycare Board of Directors. Ms. Roy-·Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics with the University of Waterloo.

TINA FORSYTH

White River, ON

Director, June 28, 2023 to June 27, 2025

Ms. Forsyth has been employed by the Township of White River for nearly 20 years and is currently the CAO/Clerk/Treasurer. She is an active member of numerous community committees and boards, including the Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation Board of Directors since 2007, and Secretary/Treasurer for the White River Community Food Bank Committee and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 169. Ms. Forsyth is the chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, bringing knowledge and experience in the areas of economic development, management, human resources, labour negotiation and business. Ms. Forsyth is a long time resident of White River and holds a Bachelors Degree of Science in Management from Lake Superior State University.

GRANT GOODWIN

Manitouwadge, ON

Director, July 30, 2023 to July 29, 2025

Mr. Goodwin is a lifetime resident of Manitouwadge. A graduate of the Recreation Leadership program at Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology and Cabinet Maker program at Sault College, Mr. Goodwin spent 30 years in Municipal Recreation Management with the Township of Manitouwadge. With business ownership experience, he brings years of expertise in business planning & development, financial control and human resource management. His volunteering work includes Ducks Unlimited and the Manitouwadge Rod and Gun Club, as well as chairing the Local Citizen’s Committee for over 20 years. In 2009, he received Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement 2009.

JESSE GAUDETTE

Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation, ON

Director, August 6, 2023 to August 5, 2026

Mr. Gaudette is a proud member of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation. He attended Sault College from 2013-2015 where he studied Natural Environment Technician. Over the summer seasons while attending Sault College, he was employed through Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg’s summer student program, and placed in the Lands and Resources department for 3 consecutive summers. After his education, he sought employment in the Forestry Industry and was hired on with Jackfish River Management, based out of Hornepayne, ON. Subsequent to Jackfish, he was hired on with Maygwayyawk Forestry Services (MFS), based out of White River, where he was a forestry technician. Mr. Gaudette is currently employed with Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg as the Lands and Resources Manager.

JOANNE MICHANO

Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation, ON

Director, August 6, 2023 to August 5, 2026

Ms. Michano is a Band Manager for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. Her community involvement includes serving as Band Manager and Chief Executive Officer for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.

 

Staff

CARMELO NOTARBARTOLO
General Manager

Carmelo is from Northwestern Ontario. He is a graduate of Confederation College from the Accounting & Finance program.  He has 10 years of senior management experience in Municipal Government prior to joining NFMC in February 2014 as the Crown Agency’s first permanent General Manager.   Carmelo has lived most of his adult life in Northwestern Ontario, having lived in Terrace Bay for 12 years and currently residing in his hometown of Thunder Bay.

JORY CARUSO
Finance Manager

Jory is from Northwestern Ontario. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). He obtained his HBComm at Lakehead University. Jory has been with NFMC since October 2021. His work experience includes external and internal audit, tax, policy development, accounting, and finance.

NEIL MCDONALD R.P.F.
Operations Manager

Neil is from Southern Ontario. He is a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) with two natural resource focused diplomas from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology (Sault Ste, Marie, Ontario) an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario), and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, British Columbia). Neil has been with NFMC since 2013. Before working at NFMC, he worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Regional Operations Division in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

SHAWNA FEDORUK
Office/Health and Safety Coordinator

Shawna has over 7 years of business management experience and 15 years of project management experience.  Her most recent employment was working for White Lake Limited Partnership as a Project Manager and also worked for the community of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg as the Economic Development Officer. Shawna has substantial experience with corporate training and requirements in the fields of Health and Safety as well as AODA.

 

BRETT REDDEN
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator

Brett is from Newfoundland and Labrador and a proud member of the NunatuKavut Committee Council. The NunatuKavut are Indigenous Inuit people originating in Southern and Central Labrador.

He is also a Canadian PGA Professional, former Registered Massage Therapist, and has extensive experience in the recruitment of healthcare professionals. Since March 2006, he has resided in Marathon, Ontario and has worked in many jurisdictions in Canada.   He graduated from The Golf Academy of the South in Winter Springs, Florida with a specialized degree in Golf Complex Operations Management, and has a diploma in Massage Therapy from Northumberland College of Massage Therapy and Hydrotherapy in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

ALAINA VANDERVOORT R.P.F.
Planning Forester

Alaina is the Planning Forester for both the Pic and White River Forests and is designated as a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA).

SCOTT SEAMAN R.P.F.
Silviculture Supervisor

Scott is from the Ottawa area and recently moved to Marathon in the spring of 2023. He has a Forest Technician diploma from Algonquin College and is also a graduate of Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry Degree where he specialized in Forest Management. Scott has over 6 years of experience working in the Forest Industry in Ontario, BC and Saskatchewan.

KRISTINA SMITH
Senior (SR) Silviculture Technician

Kristina has been working as a silviculturalist in Ontario for 10 years, 7 years in Hornepayne, ON. She graduated from the Forest Ecosystem Management Technician (FEMT) program in 2015, returning to Northern Ontario to lead the renewal programs on the Nagagami and White River Forests. She joined NFMC in March of 2019 to oversee the renewal operations on the White River Forest and works as a Senior Silviculture Technician.

SAVANNAH PATON
Senior (SR) Silviculture Technician

Savannah is from Northern Ontario. She was raised in Manitouwadge, a community located within the Pic Forest. Savannah grew up participating in various outdoor activities that her community and Pic Forest had to offer, such as hunting, fishing, and camping. This is where her love of the outdoors and interest in forestry began. She obtained her Diploma in the Forestry Technician Ecosystem Management Program at Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology in Thunder Bay ON. Savannah has worked in NFMC’s Silviculture program since 2018. She plans to continue to be a part of regenerating the forest in the area she calls home. She is a Silviculture Technician with NFMC.

DAVID HIPWELL
Senior (SR) Forestry GIS Technical Specialist

David is a graduate of the Geomatics Programming, and GIS Program at Nova Scotia Community College, he also has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Earth Sciences.  David has over 14 years of experience working in the GIS field.  His most recent experience is working for Thunderhouse Forest Service out of Hearst.  David will be working out of the Marathon office; he began his new role with NFMC on January 30, 2023.

JOSHUA DEJONG
Senior (SR) Forestry Operations Technical Specialist

Joshua is from Southwestern Ontario. He graduated from the Forest Technician and Fish and Wildlife Technician programs at Sir Sandford Fleming College.  Joshua started working for NFMC in the spring of 2019.  As a Forest Operations Technical Specialist, he is responsible for administering the compliance program, inspect infrastructure, monitor field operations, enforce Health & safety and Environmental Management systems across the Pic and White River Forests.

MADISON ULITSKY
Forestry Operations Technical Specialist

Madison is from Ottawa. She graduated from Carleton University (English/Political Science Degree) and then continued her studies at Algonquin College, where she successfully completed the Forestry Technician Program. Madison began in her new role on November 27, 2023.

 

 

Staff Directory

Carmelo Notarbartolo
General Manager
carmelo.notarbartolo@nfmcforestry.ca

Jory Caruso
Financial Manager
jory.caruso@nfmcforestry.ca

Neil McDonald R.P.F.
Operations Manager
807-229-8118 ext 14
neil.mcdonald@nfmcforestry.ca

Alaina Vandervoort R.P.F.
Planning Forester
807-229-8118 ext 19
alaina.vandervoort@nfmcforestry.ca

Shawna Fedoruk
Office/Health & Safety Coordinator
807-229-8118 ext 10          admin@nfmcforestry.ca

Brett Redden
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator
807-229-8118 ext 12
brett.redden@nfmcforestry.ca

Scott Seaman R.P.F.
Silviculture Supervisor
807-229-8118 ext 15
scott.seaman@nfmcforestry.ca

Kristina Smith
SR. Silviculture Technician
kristina.smith@nfmcforestry.ca

Savannah Paton
SR. Silviculture Technician
807-229-8118 ext 13
savannah.paton@nfmcforestry.ca

 

David Hipwell
SR. Forestry GIS Technical Specialist
807-229-8118 ext 18
david.hipwell@nfmcforestry.ca

Joshua DeJong
SR. Forestry Operations Technical Specialist
807-229-8118 ext 20
joshua.dejong@nfmcforestry.ca

Madison Ulitsky
Forestry Operations Technical Specialist
madison.utilsky@nfmcforestry.ca